You are undoubtedly familiar with the links between tobacco use and lung disease, cancer and heart disease.
Now, add periodontal infections and tooth loss to the list of problems related to tobacco use. Tobacco users may even have more severe periodontal infections than non-users.
Be reminded that your risk of oral cancer, a very aggressive form of cancer, dramatically increases with tobacco use.
The chemicals in tobacco, such as tar and nicotine, slow down healing by introducing toxins and poisons into our body. Tobacco use also reduces the chances of success when being treated for periodontal disease. Stopping your tobacco habit will improve both your general lifestyle and your chances for successful periodontal care.
